Luke 23:34
5th April 2026
1. Opening Prayer
Heavenly Father,
We come before You this day to worship You, the only true and living God—holy, sovereign, and eternal. You are high above all nations, yet near to all who call upon You in truth.
You are worthy of all glory and honor and praise. From You, and through You, and to You are all things. There is none like You—perfect in power, perfect in wisdom, perfect in righteousness.
We bless You for Your greatness, and we bow before You in reverence. Fix our hearts upon You now. Remove distractions, quiet our minds, and draw our affections upward, that we may worship You in spirit and in truth.
We ask this in Jesus’ name,
Amen.
2. Pastoral Prayer
Our gracious and eternal Father,
We come before You with reverence, acknowledging that You are God alone. You rule over all things according to the counsel of Your will. You are holy in all Your ways, just in all Your judgments, and abundant in mercy toward those who call upon You.
We thank You for Your kindness toward us—seen most clearly in the gift of Your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have redemption, even the forgiveness of sins. We confess that apart from Your grace, we would remain lost, blind, and hardened in sin. But You have drawn us near, and for this we give You thanks.
Lord, we confess our sins before You. We have sinned in thought, word, and deed. We have not loved You as we ought, nor loved one another as You have commanded. We ask that You would forgive us, cleanse us, and renew us, not for our sake, but for the sake of Christ.
We pray for our personal lives. Strengthen us in holiness. Guard our hearts from sin. Help us to walk in obedience, to resist temptation, and to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We lift before You our marriages. Establish them in truth and faithfulness. Where there is strain, bring restoration. Where there is coldness, rekindle love. Grant husbands and wives humility, patience, and a commitment to honor You in their union.
We pray for our families. Raise up children who fear Your name. Give parents wisdom to instruct, discipline, and nurture them in righteousness. Let our homes be places where Your Word is honored and Your name is revered.
We pray for Your church. Purify her. Strengthen her. Guard her from error, from compromise, and from worldliness. Raise up faithful ministers of the Word—men who will preach truth without fear and shepherd Your people with care. Unite Your people in love, and make Your church a clear witness to the gospel.
We pray for our society. In a world marked by confusion and rebellion against You, grant restraint of evil and the promotion of what is good. Expose darkness. Uphold truth. Let justice prevail where there is oppression.
We pray for our nation. Give wisdom to those in authority. Restrain corruption. Establish righteousness. Turn hearts toward what is just and upright. And above all, cause Your truth to run freely in this land.
We pray for the nations of the world. Let the gospel go forth with power. Call sinners to repentance. Build Your church among all peoples. Break down strongholds of falsehood and bring many to the knowledge of the truth.
Lord, we commit all these things to You, knowing that You are able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.
Receive our worship. Work in our hearts. Glorify Your name among us.
We ask all this through Jesus Christ our Lord,
Amen.
Illustration (For Sermon Introduction)
You can begin like this:
There have been numerous studies in recent years on forgiveness—psychological, relational, even medical.
Researchers consistently observe the same pattern:
- Most people say forgiveness is important
- Most people say they value it
- But very few actually practice it consistently
In fact, studies in behavioral psychology indicate that when people are deeply wronged:
- They tend to rehearse the offense repeatedly
- They delay forgiveness until conditions are met
- And many admit they never fully release the person at all
Even when forgiveness is expressed, it is often:
- Partial
- Conditional
- Or temporary
In other words, the modern world affirms forgiveness in theory—but resists it in reality.
And if we are honest, this is not just “out there.”
This is in here.
We know what it is to:
- Replay words spoken against us
- Hold quiet resentment
- Justify distance and coldness
- Say, “I will forgive—but not yet… not fully… not unless…”
Forgiveness, in practice, is rare.
Now place that reality next to the cross.
A man is being unjustly executed.
Mocked. Rejected. Crucified.
No apology.
No repentance.
No change in behavior.
And in that exact moment, He says:
“Father, forgive them…”
That is not human.
That is not natural.
And that is precisely the point.
Because if forgiveness is rare among men—but commanded by Christ—
Then we are forced to ask:
Why must Christians always forgive?
Sermon Manuscript
Title: Why Must Christians Always Forgive?
Text: Luke 23:34
Introduction: A Question You Cannot Avoid
“Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”
There are prayers in Scripture that immediately comfort the soul.
But this prayer does something different.
It confronts us.
It is spoken at the moment of crucifixion. Christ is nailed to the cross. His body is in agony. His blood is being poured out. He is surrounded by hostility, mockery, and indifference.
No apology has been offered.
No repentance has been expressed.
No relief is given.
And in that moment, He prays:
“Father, forgive them…”
This is not what we expect.
We know what it is to be wronged.
We know what it is to be wounded.
We know what it is to justify not forgiving.
If forgiveness could ever be withheld, it would be here.
If refusal could ever be righteous, it would be here.
But Christ does the opposite.
And this prayer presses a question upon every conscience:
If this is how Christ responds, what does it require of those who belong to Him?
That leads us to the unavoidable question:
Why must Christians always forgive?
This text gives three answers:
- Because we belong to God
- Because we have been forgiven by God
- Because Christ has paid for sin at the cross
I. Because We Belong to God
*(v. 34a – “Father…”) *
Christ begins with:
“Father…”
That word governs everything.
Even in suffering, He is not detached from God.
He is not driven by circumstance.
He is not controlled by the actions of men.
He is anchored in relationship.
He does not begin with the injustice.
He does not begin with the pain.
He begins with God.
This reveals a foundational truth:
Christians must forgive because they belong to God.
Your life is not your own.
You are a people claimed by God, brought near to Him, living before His face. Therefore, your responses are not self-determined—they are God-governed.
When forgiveness is absent, something deeper is exposed.
The heart has shifted:
- From God to the offense
- From worship to self
- From submission to control
Forgiveness, then, is not merely an emotional struggle.
It is a spiritual misalignment.
Christ shows a different pattern.
At the point of deepest suffering, He turns to the Father.
And this establishes the principle:
Forgiveness begins with proper orientation toward God.
If the heart is not anchored in God, forgiveness will feel unnatural and forced. But when the soul is directed toward the Father, the offense is placed in its proper place.
So the question must change.
Not:
- “What did they do to me?”
But:
“Who do I belong to?”
And if you belong to God—
You cannot respond apart from Him, even in moments of pain.
II. Because We Have Been Forgiven by God
*(v. 34b – “forgive them…”) *
Christ says:
“forgive them…”
These words are spoken over the guilty.
Not the deserving.
Not the improved.
The guilty.
They are not asking for forgiveness.
They are not acknowledging their sin.
Yet Christ intercedes for them.
This confronts a deep assumption within us:
We treat forgiveness as conditional.
“If they change, I will forgive.”
“If they admit it, I will release it.”
But Christ does not wait for worthiness before expressing mercy.
Scripture confirms this pattern:
- “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Ephesians 1:7)
- “Forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32)
- “Even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye” (Colossians 3:13)
This gives the second answer:
Christians must forgive because they have been forgiven by God.
You are a recipient of forgiveness you did not earn.
Your standing before God is not based on merit, but on mercy.
And if that is true, then withholding forgiveness becomes a contradiction.
You live by grace—
Yet refuse to extend it.
This does not remove justice.
It does not eliminate consequences.
It does not demand immediate reconciliation.
But it does require this:
You cannot remain in a settled posture of unforgiveness.
The Christian life is marked by readiness to forgive—not a right to withhold it.
So the question shifts:
Not:
- “Do they deserve forgiveness?”
But:
“Did you deserve the forgiveness you received?”
And if the answer is no—
Then your life must reflect what you have received.
III. Because Christ Has Paid for Sin at the Cross
*(v. 34c – “for they know not what they do”) *
Christ continues:
“for they know not what they do.”
This does not lessen guilt—it reveals blindness.
But more importantly, this prayer is being spoken as the payment is being made.
Christ is not asking the Father to overlook sin.
He is bearing it.
This is the foundation:
Christians must forgive because Christ has paid for sin at the cross.
Scripture is clear:
- “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree” (1 Peter 2:24)
- “He was wounded for our transgressions…” (Isaiah 53:5)
- “The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6)
At the cross:
- Justice is not denied
- It is satisfied
Sin is not dismissed—
It is punished in the Son.
This changes everything.
When you forgive, you are not saying: “It did not matter.”
You are saying:
“It mattered—but I will not demand payment.”
Why?
Because the cross has already declared where justice ultimately rests.
To refuse forgiveness, then, is not merely to struggle—
It is to stand out of step with the cross itself.
Conclusion: The Question Answered
The question has been answered:
Why must Christians always forgive?
Because:
- You belong to God
- You have been forgiven by God
- Christ has paid for sin at the cross
This leaves no neutral ground.
It reveals:
- The depth of our sin
- The cost of our forgiveness
- The pattern of our lives
“Be ye therefore followers of God… and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us” (Ephesians 5:1–2)
Application: Where This Confronts Us
This is not a message to admire.
It is a message to obey.
1. You Cannot Separate Salvation from Forgiveness
If you claim to be forgiven—
But live in sustained unforgiveness—
You are contradicting the gospel you profess.
2. Forgiveness Is Not Emotional First—It Is Volitional
You may still feel pain.
You may still struggle.
But forgiveness begins with a decision before God:
- To release the debt
- To surrender retaliation
- To refuse to hold the offense
Feelings may follow.
But obedience cannot wait.
3. This Must Become Specific
This is where the sermon lands.
- Who are you withholding forgiveness from?
- What offense are you rehearsing?
- Where are you resisting release?
This is not theoretical.
This is obedience.
To the Unbeliever
Christ’s prayer includes sinners like you.
But you must come to Him.
“Come unto me… and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28)
Do not admire forgiveness—receive it.
To the Church
The command is clear:
- “Let all bitterness… be put away from you” (Ephesians 4:31)
- “Forgiving one another…” (Colossians 3:13)
Unforgiveness is not a small issue.
It is a contradiction of grace.
Final Line
If you belong to God,
If you have been forgiven by God,
If Christ has paid for sin—
Then you cannot stand before the cross and say:
“I will not forgive.”
Benediction
Now may the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
Make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ;
To whom be glory for ever and ever.
Amen.
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